Introduction
Print-on-demand (POD) garments are more popular than ever, and it’s easy to see why. Gone are the days of staring at a rack of identical T-shirts and hoping that one fits you. Now you can design your own garment using an online tool, order it in any size or color, and wait for it to show up on your doorstep in just a few days. The only problem is that POD garments require slightly different care than regular ones do: You can’t throw them into the washing machine with everything else because they’re made of delicate fabrics like cotton jersey that may shrink or fade if not handled correctly. So here are some tips on how to keep your favorite POD pieces looking good as new!
Washing print-on-demand garments can be a little confusing — you don’t want to ruin the design, but if you don’t get them clean, they’ll start to smell. It doesn’t have to be so hard! We’ve got a few tips for washing your prints without fading or ruining any artwork.
Order Quality Garments
The best way to take care of your print-on-demand garments is to buy quality products from the start. Some vendors like to cut corners to ink out a bigger profit and keep their inventory moving out the door. Instead of going cheap, go for quality and affordability instead. Start today with PrintDoors!
Use a gentle wash setting when washing your garments.
Wash your garment on the mildest setting possible.
Use warm water and a mild detergent to avoid damaging the garment’s design and color.
If you have an older washing machine, check how much water it uses and adjust accordingly. Some machines run on more water than others, which can cause issues with the print quality of your garments.
Don’t use bleach.
If you’re wondering how to care for your print-on-demand garments, it’s important to note that bleach is not an effective cleaning agent. When you use bleach on the fabric of the garment, it can cause the ink to fade and even disappear entirely. But using a product like OxiClean or other stain removers isn’t necessarily better either; these products often contain optical brighteners that are known to damage certain types of dyes and fabrics (including those used in your print-on-demand shirts).
Therefore, if you want to avoid damaging your shirt prints or ruining their appearance with bleaching agents: just don’t do it!
Dry your garments inside out or hang them to dry.
If you’re not wearing the garment immediately after washing and drying it, hang it on a hanger to dry. The heat from the dryer is too harsh for these garments and may cause them to shrink or lose their shape.
Avoid direct sunlight, which can fade your garments over time.
Don’t use a bleaching agent as this will cause discoloration of the fabric and design.
Don’t wring out your garment when washing—this will damage the fibers and make them look worn out prematurely.
Iron inside out on the lowest heat setting.
Ironing inside out helps to avoid damaging the print on your garment. The starchier the fabric is, the more likely it is to cause damage to your print. If you don’t have an ironing board, you can put a towel over a table and iron there instead.
Use a low heat setting—this will help prevent melting or pilling of the fabric, which can happen when higher temperatures are used. It also helps preserve color vibrancy throughout its life span without fading or spotting due to heat exposure (especially important when using lighter colors).
Don’t iron over printed areas! This is an obvious one but worth noting: if you do accidentally press down on a printed area while ironing, stop immediately and check for any discoloration in that area before continuing with your routine; this may need additional treatment from there onward depending on how badly damaged it was from pressing down too hard initially (for example: re-printing). If this does happen repeatedly over time though then I would suggest switching out your current garment for something else because chances are there’s nothing left anymore anyways.”
Avoid ironing directly over the print area.
Avoid ironing directly over the print area.
When you’re ironing, avoid placing the iron directly on top of any areas that have a print or decoration. This is especially important for heat transfer decals, as some of these can be damaged if put under direct heat for too long. If your garment has an applique or other type of decoration that is heat set into place, always check to make sure it has been adhered properly before putting the item in an oven (or washing machine).
Turn off the steam feature of your iron to avoid stains and damage to decoration.
On a garment that has no decoration on it, you can safely use the steam function of your iron. However, if there is a hard-to-remove decoration such as a print or embroidery, don’t use steam at all! The moisture from the steam can cause damage to the print and possibly shrink it.
When using an iron with steam, place your garment on top of an old towel or cloth so that if any water does get onto your garment it will be absorbed by this instead of remaining inside where it could cause damage and discoloration in addition to staining other items in your laundry basket (and making them smell like mildew).
If you must use steam while caring for garments with decorations on them do so sparingly and carefully—especially around delicate areas such as lace trimming or buttons.
You can keep your garments looking good if you follow these simple care instructions.
Don’t use bleach to clean your garments.
Avoid ironing directly over the print area, which can cause the ink to run.
Don’t wash your garments in hot water and don’t use high heat in the dryer (both of these processes can fade or damage the print).
Wash your garments with similar-colored clothing items only, so that dyes don’t rub off onto other clothing and create unwanted stains on them.
Conclusion
We hope you’ve found this guide useful. We know it can be hard to keep your garments looking good, but with these simple tips, you should have no problem! Remember that if you do end up with stains on your print-on-demand garment, the best thing to do is contact us immediately so we can make sure everything is taken care of promptly and efficiently.
